Bill Maher will be here (from LA) for a stand-up show Saturday night at The Beacon — a good time to take a look at how his long-running HBO show, “Real Time,” has performed in the TV arena.

Maher, who segued to HBO from Comedy Central and ABC — after hosting “Politically Incorrect” on those two networks from 1993-2002 — has enjoyed a solid run on cable since “Real Time” premiered in 2003.

He’s increased his viewership average nearly every year, starting with 1.9 million viewers in 2003 and hitting the 4.2 million mark last season — a number he’s sustained thus far this season.

Speaking of ratings, “Dr. Phil” and host Phil McGraw kicked some daytime butt with McGraw’s two-part interview with Michelle Knight, one of the women held captive for years in the Cleveland home of monster Ariel Castro (who took the coward’s way out and killed himself in prison in September).

The second part of “Miracle in Cleveland,” which aired Wednesday, is expected to average over 4 million viewers when final numbers are in. In the overnights, Wednesday’s Part 2 spiked viewership for “Dr. Phil” by 33 percent over last week and 38 percent over the same time last year. As you’d expect, the show went through the roof in Cleveland — where “Dr. Phil” was up a whopping 293 percent over last November’s numbers.

‘World’ according to Sean

I reached out to Sean Hayes on Thursday, now that NBC has ordered additional episodes of his sitcom, “Sean Saves The World.” The show — which I really enjoy — got off to a slow start, but has picked up some steam of late (especially in the adults 18-49 demo). “I’m thrilled about our four-episode order from NBC,” Hayes told me via e-mail. “On behalf of the writers, crew and actors, we are grateful for the network’s continued support.”

He added this P.S.: “Not that exciting but I’m actually stuck on set!”

Telethon fetes the vets

People magazine is teaming with the Military Channel and Homeward Bound on a telethon airing Sunday to support vets with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. It’s hosted by Alan Alda and Joe Mantegna and co-hosted by Connie Francis and airs at 7 p.m. on the Military Channel — with Trace Adkins, Jason Bateman, J
ames Brolin, Mark Harmon and many more participating (and look for People executive editor Betsy Gleick).

Sunday’s telethon — or a part of it, at least — will also air on Ch. 11 (7-9 p.m.) and on Tribune stations in Chicago (WGN) and LA (KTLA).

Peoplemagazine is teaming with the Military Channel on “Homeward Bound,” a telethon supporting vets with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries hosted by Alan Alda and Joe Mantegna and airing Sunday (7 p.m.) Look for People executive editor Betsy Gleick on the telecast .